Leather-stretching machine.



PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.

E. L. POST.

LEATHER STRETGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1904.

3 SHBET3-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

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E. L. POST.

LEATHER STRETGHING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 27, 1904.

3 SHEETS8HEBT 2.

7 7 w i n Z M W 2 L. J. 3 b anal] P 2 m Hum- 4 p 1% auuu hfln um 0 M 7 liliiiiifik 1 4 6 m 7 W 6 4 30 INVENTOR EZIQZ.POJ'Z' ATTORNEYS WITNESSES No. 776,686. PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.,

E. L. POST.

LEATHER STRETGHING MACHINE.

. APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 27, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m WITNESSES 722$ INVENTOR Ezra 5. Past Q I By A TTOHNEYS UNITED STATES Patented December 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEATHER-STRETCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,686, dated December 6, 1904.

Application filed August 27,1904. Serial No. 222,384. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRA L. Pos'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wallingford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leather-Stretching Machines, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for stretching leather from which power-belts are made, so that the belts when made from such leather will not stretch more at one edge than at the other.

It is a well-known fact that the hides from which belting-leather is made are tougher and stronger along the longitudinal center thereof than at the opposite edges, and when leathermade from these hides is cut into strips which are secured together to form power-belts these belts are softer at one edge than at the other and will stretch more at such edges, and this makes the belt longer at one edge than at the other and prevents the same from properly fitting the driving-pulleys and also throws more strain upon one edge of the belt than the other and causes the belt to run crooked or work off of the pulleys. It is also a wellknown fact that hides of the class referred to are thicker and softer at the edges or side portions thereof than at the longitudinal center, and in order to avoid the objections above specified to belts made from leather cut from such hides all portions of the leather must be so stretched that when the strips are cut longitudinally from the leather and sewed or otherwise secured together the entire belt so formed will possess throughout its length and breadth the same degree of firmness and strength and the same power of resistance in order that it will not stretch more at one point than at another or at one edge than at another; and the object of this invention is to provide a machine which will accomplish these results.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated cross-heads Z) and c.

by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which*- Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my improved machine or apparatus for stretching a whole hide and showing the hide in po sition in dotted lines; Fig. 2, a partial section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l and showing the hide in section; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a machine for stretching half a hide and showing the half-hide in position in dotted lines; Fig. 4, a partial section on the line 4 i of Fig. 3 and showing the hide in section; Fig. 5, a plan view of a clamp which I employ; Fig. 6, a sectional side view thereof, and Fig. 7 a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention applied in a ma chine or apparatus for stretching a whole hide, and in the practice of my invention as shown in this figure I provide a main frame composed of two longitudinally-arranged and parallel side bars, rods, or tubes a, which are preferably cylindrical in form, and these side bars or members are connected at one end by a stationary cross-head b and at the opposite end by a cross-head a, movable longitudinally thereon. In the form of construction shown the cross-head a is provided with end sleeves 0 through which said frame members are free to pass, and pivoted to the outer side of the sleeves o as shown at 0 are dogs 0*, having beveled inwardly-directed noses 0", which are adapted to pass through holes in the sleeves 0 as shown in Fig. 1, and to enter corresponding notches or recesses in the frame members a, and the dogs 0 are provided with handle members 0", between which and said frame members are placed springs 0 which serve at all times to force the noses of the dogs 0 inwardly, as shown at the right of Fig. 1; but the said noses of said dogs are so beveled that the cross-head c is free to move toward the adjacent ends of the frame members (0.

The cross-heads 7) and 0 are preferably of the form shown in the drawings, each being 9 5 bent outwardly, as shown at a, and pivoted to each of said cross-heads at e are two crossbars f, said cross-bars being free to swing over the side frame members a and over the Each of the cross-bars f is provided at regular intervals with a pin, screw, or similar device 9, five of which are employed on each bar in the form of construction shown, and I also provide a plurality of clutch-holders 72, which equal in number the pins or screws 9 and which are pivotally connected with said bars thereby.

The bars f are longer at their inner than at their outer ends, and the clutch-holders 72 are clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and said holders are provided in one end with a large circular opening 7L adapted to receive the pins or screws g, and each of said holders is also provided at regular intervals with holes if.

Mounted on each of the bars or clutch-holders i2 is a clutch 2', and these clutches consist of a wide base portion 2 an upwardly and forwardly curved member or arm 2 connected with the rear end of the base portion, and a pivoted jaw 2", suspended from the front end of said arm, the base portion being also provided with a stationary transverse front jaw 2 The connection of the clutch 2' with the clutch holder or bar 72 is made by means of a plate m, which is pivoted centrally to the base 2 of the clutch, as shown at 272 by a screw or in any other preferred way, and the bar IL is connected with the bottom of the plate 2/2 by a tongue-and-groove joint, as shown at 221 all this construction relative to the clutch being best shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. As-thus connected it will be seen that the clutch 2 is free to turn in a horizontal plane on the plate m, and said plate is free to slide on the bar it and maybe locked thereto at any desired point, this operation being accomplished by means of a raised portion or member 2' at the rear end of the plate 222, in which is formed a recess 2 which opens downwardly and in which is mounted a vertically-movable pin or bolt j, having an enlarged member 1' at the lower end thereof and said lower end of which is adapted to lit in the holes 72* in the bar or clutch holder it, as shown at f, and the top of which is provided with a nut or head y, by which said pin may be raised.

At the rear side of the base part 2' of the clutch is a projecting shoulder 222*, in which is mounted a vertically-movable pin m and said shoulder is provided with a recess m and the pin m with a collar 222 vertically movable in said recess, and the lower end of the pin m is adapted to enter segmentally-arranged holes m formed in the rear end portion of the plate m, and in this way the clutch 2, which is adapted to swing in a horizontal plane on the holder It, may be locked at any desired point, and the pin m is provided at its upper end with a head 222 by which it may be operated.

It will be observed that the transverse stationary jaw of the clutch 2 if raised above the base portion of said clutch, and the bearing-surface 2' thereof, is downwardly and backwardly inclined and said surface is smooth. The jaw 2" is pivoted to the arm 2 and the bearing-surface k thereof when said jaw is in its lowest position is parallel with the bearing-surface of the jaw 2, and slightly above the same the bearing-surface it of the jaw 2* is provided with longitudinal teeth or serrations 712 and the jaw 2" is also provided at its rear edge with a transverse lip 73, which when said clutch is not in use, as shown in Fig. 4:, projects below the rear lower edge of the jaw 2'", which is provided with a longitudinally-arranged and raised shoulder 0 against which said lip bears.

Pivoted to the back of the jaw 2", as shown at if, is a segmental handle-piece k, which passes upwardly through a slot or opening in the arm 2 and is pivoted to a handle-lever k, which is pivoted to the front edge of the segmental member or arm 2 as shown at and by means of the handle-lever k the jaw 2* may be raised whenever desired. It will be observed that the base portion of the clutch, the stationary front jaw 2', and the pivoted jaw 2* are of considerable width, the object of this being to provide an extensive clutch-surface, and the arm 2' is also of considerable width or about as wide as the base In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have indicated in dotted lines at n a hide which it is desired to stretch, and this hide is trimmed in the usual manner before putting it in the machine or apparatus, and this indication of the hide or sheet of leather to be stretched is made only for the purpose of showing the operation of the machine or apparatus.

In Figs. 3 and L I have shown another form of my improved machine or apparatus which is intended for stretching one-half of a hide divided longitudinally of the center thereof, and in this form of construction the leather or the half of the hide is indicated by the dotted lines a in Fig. 3 and shown in section in Fig. 4:.

The only difference between the form of construction shown in Figs. 3 and i and that shown in Fig. 1 consists in the fact that the side rods or frame members (2 are placed closer together, and the cross-heads 6 and 0 are made shorter, and a single bar f is pivoted to each of said cross-heads at a point at one side of the longitudinal center thereof, and one end of the bars f is shorter than the other, as clearly shown, and the bars f are free to swing over the side frame members a and over the cross-heads b and 0 and as clearly indicated in Fig. 4, and said Fig. 4 also shows the relative position of these parts in Fig. 1. The side frame members a are also provided in the form of construction shown in Fig. l and at the end opposite the stationary crosshead 6 with a supplemental cross-head 0, having end sleeves 0 through which the frame members (2 pass, and the cross-head 0 may be locked to the side frame members (2 at any desired point by means of pins or similar devices 0, which pass through the sleeves 0 and corresponding recesses in the side frame membore a and a screw 0 is passed through the cross-heado and adapted to turn freely therein, and the inner end of this screw passes through the longitudinallymovable crosshead 0, and the outer end of said screw is provided with a head or handle-arm 0" by which it may be turned, and by means of the screw 0 the cross-head 0 may be drawn outwardly in the operation of stretching the hide, and said cross-head will be automatically locked at any point by the dogs 0, and the said crosshead 0 may be moved inwardly by releasing said dogs, and this same construction is also employed in the form of machine shown in Figs. 3 and 4 for operating the longitudinal movable cross-heal 0. My invention, however, is not limited to any particular means for moving the cross-head or heads 0 in the operation of stretching the hide, and any suitable means may be employed for this purpose.

In practice the machine or apparatus is placed on a suitable support and so placed that it cannot be moved longitudinally, suitable bearings being provided against which the ends of the frame members a abut.

The operation of the form of construction shown in Fig. 1 will be as follows: Whenever it is desired to stretch a whole hide or sheet of leather made from a whole hide from which power-belting is to be made, the said hide or sheet of leather is prepared in the usual manner andis placed on the machine or apparatus, the cross-head 0 or the position thereof being adjusted to correspond with the length of the hide or sheet of leather. The opposite ends of the hide or sheet of leather are then connected with the clutches i, which are connected with the cross-bars f, and the cross-head c is moved outwardly. It is well known that the central longitudinal part of a hide is tougher and stronger than the side portions, and this is the reason why a power-belt made from a hide of leather will stretch more at one edge than at the other. With my improved machine when the strain is thrown on the bars f all parts of the hide will be stretched, but the central part will not yield as much as the side parts, and the outer ends of the bars f will thus be stretched more at the sides than at the middle thereof, and in this way all the stretching and yielding qualities of the leather will be taken out, and when a belt is made therefrom the belt will possess the same resistance power throughout its entire length and width and will not stretch more at one side than at the other.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 3' and 4, which is designed for the purpose of stretching a half of a hide divided longitudinally, the longer ends of the bars f are connected with the central portion of the half of the hide or with the part thereof which constitutes the central portion of the hide, while the shorter ends thereof are connected with side portion of the half of. the hide which possesses less power of resistance and. which will stretch more than the central portion of the hide, and the operation of this form of construction will be the same as that shown in Fig. 1, and with both forms of construction the hide or the sheet of leather formed from a hide will be stretched throughout all its parts, so as to render all its parts of equal density and equal strength in the resistance of force applied thereto,as in the case of powerbelts made therefrom. Before placing the hide or sheet of leather on the apparatus it is wet or soaked, so as to render it soft and pliable and so as to facilitate the operation of the apparatus, and in both forms of construction the greatest amount of force is applied to that part of the hide or leather with which the shorter ends of the bars f are connected.

I also employ in the .form of construction shown in Fig. 1 a cross member 2), which connects the side frame members a and which is connected therewith by sleeves p mounted on said frame members, and the end portions of which are preferably slightly lower than the central portion thereof, as shown at p and the lower end portions of the cross member 3) are provided with clutches 2 exactly similar in all respects to the clutch shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, with the exception that the lower end portions p of the cross member 1) take the place of the clutch holders or bars 71 shown in said figures. This arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 2, and the object thereof is to prevent the longitudinal wrinkling or twisting of a hide in the operation of stretching it and to hold the hide perfectly smooth and even at all points, and this cross member 19 is also employed in the construction shown in Figs. 3 and i and for a similar purpose.

By employing the clutch-holders it, which are adapted to swing in a horizontal plane on their pivotal supports, and the pivoted clutches e', which are adapted to swing in a horizontal plane on the holders 7i and to be locked at any desired point in said plane, 1 provide means whereby an exact amount of strain may be thrown open, the hide or leather at all points and also means whereby the direction of this strain may be equalized or changed as desired, and this combination of pivoted clutch-holders and pivoted clutch is one of the important features of this invention.

The stationary cross-head b in both forms of construction may be secured to side frame members a in any desired manner; but in the construction herein shown I employ lock-pins r for this purpose.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A leather-stretching apparatus, comprising parallel side members provided with two cross-heads one of which is stationary and the other movable longitudinally on said side members, bars pivoted to said cross-heads and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane thereover, clutch-holders pivotally connected with said bars and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane thereon, clutches adjustably mounted on said bars, and a cross member connected with the side members between said crossheads and provided at its opposite ends with clutches, substantially as shown and described.

2. A leather-stretching apparatus, comprising parallel side members provided with two cross-heads one of which is stationary and the other movable longitudinally on said side members, bars pivoted to said cross-heads and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane thereover, clutch-holders pivotally connected with said bars and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane thereon, clutches adjustably mount ed on said bars, and a cross member connected with the side members between said crossheads and provided at its opposite ends with clutches, the clutches on said holders being also adapted to swing in a horizontal plane thereon, substantially as shown and described.

3. A leather-stretching apparatus, comprising parallel side members provided with two stationary cross-heads near the ends thereof, a movable cross-head mounted on said side members between said stationary cross-head and adjacent to one of them, means for locking said movable cross-head to the side members, a screw passing through one of the stationary cross-heads and through the adjacent movable cross-head, bars pivoted to the movable cross-head and to the stationary crosshead at the opposite end of the side members and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane over said cross-heads, clutch-holders pivotally connected with the last-named cross-heads, clutches adjustably mounted on said clutchholders, a cross member connected withthe side members between the movable cross-head and the stationary cross-head at the opposite end of said side members and clutches pivoted to the opposite ends of said cross member, substantially as shown and described.

4:. A leather-stretching apparatus, comprising parallel side members provided at one end with a stationary cross-head and at the opposite end with a cross-head preferably longitudinally thereof, means for moving the lastnamed cross-head longitudinally of the side members, locking devices for holding the movable cross-head at any desired point, bars pivoted to said cross-heads and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane thereover, clutchholders pivotally connected with said bar and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane thereon,clutches adj ustably mounted on said clutchholders and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane thereon, a cross-head connected with the side members between said cross-heads, and clutches pivoted to the opposite ends of said cross member, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 26th day of August, 1904:.

EZRA L. POST.

l/Vitnesses:

F. A. STEWART, O. J. KLEIN. 

